Paul Kasprzycki : “Lahaina Fire Death Toll Rises: 101 Confirmed”

The death toll from the August 8th fires in Maui has tragically increased to 101, as officials recently announced the discovery of the remains of 76-year-old Paul Kasprzycki. The Maui Police Department’s newly established cold case unit located Kasprzycki’s remains, bringing closure to his family and friends.

Kasprzycki was one of the three individuals who remained on the department’s “credible missing persons list.” Initially, the list included 388 people, but now there are only two individuals left: Robert H. Owens and Elmer Lee Stevens.

Paul Kasprzycki was an esteemed artist who resided in the Lahaina industrial area, where he had his studio and workshop. A heartfelt Facebook post by a close friend highlighted his artistic contributions and the impact he had on the community.

This marks the first time the Maui Police Department has established a dedicated cold case unit. The unit consists of two officers who previously served on the Morgue Identification Notification Task Force, which meticulously identified all 100 previously known remains from the wildfire.

During a press conference held on February 5th, Officer Brad Taylor emphasized that the creation of the cold case unit aims to assure the families of the remaining missing individuals that they have not been forgotten. Taylor stated, “We are actively working for you.”

The investigations for the last two missing persons involve pursuing potential leads and gathering eyewitness accounts to establish their whereabouts during the fire. Taylor explained, “We have created strategies based on their mobility and estimated escape routes. The search is ongoing.”

In a recent news release, the Maui Police Department stated that they continue to diligently reinvestigate all available evidence in the remaining missing persons cases. The process of locating the fire victims’ remains has been arduous, involving more than 40 cadaver dogs meticulously searching through the ash and rubble of the five-mile burn area. Forensic experts have spent months identifying the remains, which were badly burned, using DNA, dental records, and other methods.

The Lahaina wildfire stands as the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century. Initially, officials estimated the death toll to be as high as 115. However, DNA testing revealed that some remains were fragmented or commingled, resulting in a revised number of 97 on September 15th. The death toll rose to 100 with the identification of two individuals who succumbed to their fire-related injuries and the subsequent discovery of an additional person’s remains on October 12th.

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.